Short facts about the geography of Faroe Islands

Location:

Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Iceland to Norway

Geographic coordinates:

62 00 N, 7 00 W

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total:  1,399 sq km land:  1,399 sq km water:  0 sq km (some lakes and streams)

Area - comparative:

eight times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

1,117 km

Maritime claims:

continental shelf:  200 NM or agreed boundaries or median line exclusive fishing zone:  200 NM or agreed boundaries or median line territorial sea:  3 NM

Climate:

mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy

Terrain:

rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point:  Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point:  Slaettaratindur 882 m

Natural resources:

fish, whales, hydropower

Land use:

arable land:  6% permanent crops:  0% permanent pastures:  0% forests and woodland:  0% other:  94% (1996)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:

archipelago of 17 inhabited islands and one uninhabited island, and a few uninhabited islets; strategically located along important sea lanes in northeastern Atlantic; precipitous terrain limits habitation to small coastal lowlands

Source: World Factbook